New panel in garage, slight dilemma with circuits

[freebo86]

So I just installed a new 60A panel in my attached garage. The panel is recessed and I took 3- 1-1/4" conduits up to the attic space for circuit distribution.

However after the fact the first set of receptacles I want to install, see the picture are pretty much right next to the panel but the way I have it now is I would have to run the wire all the way up, then back down and over to the boxes using surface conduit. Can't go behind the wall for this particular wall due to the way the wall is built on that side where it attaches to the house.

Is there any issue if I were to use EMT conduit and come out from the right side of the panel and then transition from inside wall and then just run straight over to the two quad receptacles I have shown in the picture? This would save me probably 40feet of wire... I also plan on putting a 50A welder rec near there also, so I would have this same dilemma and would certainly add cost running that much 8-3 wire..

 

[matt_i]

A possibility is to slot out a square under the panel and install a metal square box on a short stub, front edge flush with the drywall. Then install a "backless" "ring" box on the face of the former to protrude out to the surface. Finish the drywall around. Now knockout the right side of the backless box and run straight across, bending an offset to go over the corner.

One question remains...what do the attic conduits go to if the wiring is going to be on the surface? The issue of saving wire is always going to be overtrumped by running on the shortest path straight horizontally. If you are going to run all conduit, I much prefer running individual THHN conductors as its easy to fish and pull with a helper. The THHN you can buy in spools of 250 or 500' and so the savings is in buying large spool quantities for the entire job.

Edit, so #12awg thhn is around 8.5 cents per foot @ HD in 500' spool. For the 40 feet x 3 conductors you are looking at $10.50, so not a bank breaker in my book. I'd use the overhead conduits...

 

[freebo86]

A possibility is to slot out a square under the panel and install a metal square box on a short stub, front edge flush with the drywall. Then install a "backless" "ring" box on the face of the former to protrude out to the surface. Finish the drywall around. Now knockout the right side of the backless box and run straight across, bending an offset to go over the corner.

One question remains...what do the attic conduits go to if the wiring is going to be on the surface? The issue of saving wire is always going to be overtrumped by running on the shortest path straight horizontally. If you are going to run all conduit, I much prefer running individual THHN conductors as its easy to fish and pull with a helper. The THHN you can buy in spools of 250 or 500' and so the savings is in buying large spool quantities for the entire job.

Edit, so #12awg thhn is around 8.5 cents per foot @ HD in 500' spool. For the 40 feet x 3 conductors you are looking at $10.50, so not a bank breaker in my book. I'd use the overhead conduits...

Your first idea there got me thinking now, kinda regret adding the mudding and closing it off below the panel this afternoon.. ARGHH.

The conduits up to the attic are as I have receptacles on the other 3 walls, but those I was going to get to from the attic and then fish the wire down to them in behind the wall. There is receptacles already there only their 15A fed by 14/2 so I was going to bring 12/2 down to them off this new sub panel.

Also there is a construction heater I want to add in the corner of the shop so from having surface mounted conduit running to this I was going up into the attic and then just drop down where I put this thing.

Now I'm in Canada, mind telling me what THHN is? I was at Home Depot today and a roll of 30ft yellow 12/2 is $30..

 

[matt_i]

Sorry, THHN/THWN is a single, stranded-wire conductor spec'd in USA. Its gasoline, oil and water resistant with an extremely tough jacket. Standard issue on industrial wiring projects. So you'd buy a spool of black, green, and white and a fish tape, possibly some wire lube, and pull 3 wires into the conduit.

As far as I know its not illegal to put solid-conductor NM-B wire in conduits but the fill charts are different and it has got to be a complete pain in the **** for any bends that have to be traversed.

 

[freebo86]

Ah I see what you mean now, yes NMD (loomex) is fairly pricey.

But I can get T90 wire it comes stranded or solid and it is quite a bit cheaper than buying the NMD stuff. The T90 runs approx. $1.60/meter while the NMD is $3/meter.
ut p
I believe that THHN is not used around here anymore and was phased out by T90..

Which leads me to another question where I have that 1 surface box mounted used to be a central vacuum outlet, I removed the cover plate for the central vacuum as that would never be used in the garage. Do these need to be covered a certain way or can I just put my box over it and call it good?